Three Points: Man City Debacle

Three mercifully short and decidedly un-sweet takeaways from Manchester City's 4-0 whipping of Newcastle United on Monday, in the form of possible excuses for the performance and their debunking.

Excuse #1 - Newcastle were always going to lose. Not this way. Never mind the 63-37 percent possession deficit, or being outshot 20-5. Those numbers can lie. What we wanted out of this first match was some ray of hope, however peephole-like, that last year's relegation battle was an anomaly in the distant rear view of this new club. No matter the opposition or venue, that ray could've come in the form of fighting spirit against whatever adversity might be dealt. Instead we got too much fighting and almost no spirit. From manner of play to facial expression to body language you could group the Newcastle players into two categories: reckless and invisible. It won't do, and from Alan Pardew's dire visage for virtually the entire match, he knows it.

Excuse #2 - The bid for Yohan Cabaye and his subsequent absence torpedoed the match. See "against whatever adversity" above. I don't approve of Arsenal's timing any more than Pardew does. But players and clubs at this level must be resistant to stronger winds than that. If Cabaye can't enter the pitch in game shape after a bid from another club, I would value his dedication to Newcastle United and his overall professionalism at significantly less than £10 million. The same goes for his teammates.

Excuse #3 - That was never a red card. See "against whatever adversity" above. I didn't agree with Steven Taylor's essentially match-ending red in first-half extra time, his post-game apology notwithstanding. Players have escaped yellow for worse. But the petulance being shown by too many Magpies in the first half made that card due to someone in black stripes; mere seconds before it happened, the more plastic of the two Man City supporters in our pub said, "Someone on Newcastle is getting a red tonight." Taylor's teammates didn't seem interested in venting any indignance through their play the rest of the evening, either.

All in all, the best that can be said about Monday's match is, it's over. A home fixture against less monumental opposition awaits. It's early in the season for a crucial match, but a turnaround is almost mandatory to cool the temperature of Pardew's bench seat. 

Comments

[marz]

It's going to be a long season,
Is Alan Pardew the right manager?(he's been found wanting too many times), - Joe Kinnears not the answer
Are Newcastle players spoilt? - they seem to be missing heart for the english game
Why haven't we signed any decent defenders - following last seasons debacle,
Have the coaching staff got the tactical nous for todays game - Joe Kinnears even more out of touch

[Beardsley's Love Child]

Not being snarky but could you point out where you got the idea that anything could have changed from last season when nothing has?

[fred]

Thanks Bob, speaking to a friend of mine i suggested a 4-0 result was likely. Same plebs playing as last season, why would the result be different. Media is full of stories about how much in demand our players are, like Cabaye, HBA, Tiote, Colo etc. Problem is they may be ok individually but as a team they are useless. If we get good offers for any of them they should be sold, we are going no-where anyway. Last season was a relegation struggle. This season relegation will be assured nice and early. So much faith put in by so many, for nothing again.

[JeffC]

We looked like QPR did last year.....only on a cheaper bankroll.

[Jaeger]

just too much ball watching and cemented feet. yanga-mbwia shouldnt have been put up against jesus navas, wayyyy too fast for him.

this is probably the hardest fixture of the year and at least its over and done with. maybe it will spark some action in the transfer dept. (coming in, not selling like cabaye)

desperately need a CAM or CF that has strength to fight of the CBs. gouffran made some good runs initially, looked more dangerous than cisse.

ill give them till the end of the month before i consider relegation deeply.

[laser]

on what planet was that never a red card.... taylor handled the ball in the area & got lucky not to give a penalty away .. then immidiatley punches a city player in front of the ref before the ball even got there. what part of that was not really a red card?